Chapter 458: The Fisherman And The Invitation (2/2)

The old Minister of Offerings said expressionlessly, ”If this incident were to really happen, the Academy would definitely be at odds with General Xia Hou. How would the Empress' son ascend the dragon throne then?”

The censor was not a cultivator. Even though he knew that there were many officials in court who came from the Academy, he did not understand the old man's reasoning. He wondered what right the Academy had to decide on who would inherit the throne.

The old Minister of Offerings sighed and said, ”That Mr. Thirteen is not afraid of the laws of the Tang Empire. He killed Huang Xing and Yu Shuizhu on the rainy streets because he was strong enough and was confident that n.o.body would get the goods on him. However, he is not as strong as Xia Hou. If I were him, I wouldn't know where to begin either. No matter how fast his state raised over the past two years, he is no match for Xia Hou. Xia Hou can kill him with just a finger.”

The censor was confused and asked subconsciously, ”Are we going to help Mr. Thirteen secretly?”

The old Minister of Offerings glanced at him and his white brows furrowed. He lectured, ”Xia Hou's retirement was engineered by the Academy. If Ning Que insists on breaking the rules, the Academy would neither help nor stop him. It is highly possible that they will just watch from the sidelines. However, he is the Headmaster's student and is from the Academy. If we interfere in the matter, do you think that the Academy would not dare do anything to Qinghe County?”

The censor smiled awkwardly as he thought to himself, ”If the clan does not dare to interfere in the matter, wouldn't the old man be thought to be unreasonable for coming to Chang'an?”

The old Minister of Offerings could guess what this distant nephew of his was thinking but did not explain. Instead, he slowly shut his eyes. He did not need to pretend to have already thought of a ploy because he was still thinking hard. He thought of how Mr. Thirteen of the Academy could defeat Xia Hou.

If Ning Que did not understand how to defeat Xia Hou, the battle would never begin. If the old Minister of Offerings did not understand how to defeat Xia Hou, then the families of Qinghe and the princess would not benefit from this matter.

The officials from Qinghe County were baffled like many in Chang'an. As rumors about Ning Que's ident.i.ty spread, the bigwigs in the palace began to think of what Ning Que would do without the support of the Academy.

Those bigwigs who could vaguely guess between the lines, like the prince, had never been fooled by Ning Que's flippant and shameless pretense. They knew that he was a person who had strong self-control and was extremely rational. He was a man who was cold and cruel because of this.

Ning Que would not take action at the moment that was seemingly hopeless. The bigwigs thought long and hard on behalf of Ning Que but could not find any semblance of hope. Thus, they began to relax and felt that Chang'an would be peaceful this autumn and that there would not be any problems between the Academy and the military.

It was then when news reached the palace, the princess and the court officials from the General's Mansion. The bigwigs thus grew restless and uneasy.

General Xia Hou had invited Ning Que, Mr. Thirteen of the Academy to a banquet held at his mansion tonight.

In the estate by the Yanming Lake.

Ye Hongyu looked at Ning Que, who was shrouded in the shadow cast by the eucalyptus tree. She suddenly asked, ”I only know now why you need strength.”

Ning Que said, ”No wonder you were the Grand Master of the Divine Hall's Judicial Department. You have received such intelligence even after you've escaped from the Peach Mountain and retreated into Chang'an.”

Ye Hongyu said, ”You'd of course have to take revenge on those who killed your father. However, this might not be the best time for it. You can't even beat me now, how can you kill Xia Hou?”

Ning Que said, ”When did I say I was going to kill Xia Hou?”

”Instincts.”

Ye Hongyu said calmly, ”This lake, the house by the lake, Sangsang's cooking, your breathing, and the scent in this garden. They all tell me that you are preparing to kill someone.”

Ning Que shook his head and said, ”Killing someone is against the law of the Tang Empire. Teacher and Eldest Brother have forbidden me from doing so.”

Ye Hongyu said, ”Then why are you going to the banquet?”

Ning Que smiled and said, ”There's free food, why not? I can't beat him now, neither can I kill him. So I can only eat all the delicacies at his mansion as a form of revenge.”

Naturally, Ye Hongyu did not believe him. She said, ”If a dispute happens between you and Xia Hou, the Divine Hall would benefit from it. I will not stop you.”

Ning Que said, ”I have asked Sangsang to prepare supper, so I will come back alive.”

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